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Forshaw Demolition grows HD Hyundai fleet

North-West specialist contractor Forshaw Demolition has added two HD Hyundai HX330AL crawler excavators to its growing fleet of equipment. Solid reliability, high durability and good back-up from local dealer HES Enterprises have seen the company move almost exclusively to the Hyundai brand for crawler machines.

The family-owned business, with more than 80 years of demolition experience, was initially involved in the haulage industry, before moving into demolition after the Second World War. It now specialises in all forms of demolition and deconstruction, including industrial decommissioning, asbestos removal and land remediation. Forshaw’s fleet includes an HX520, two HX380As, the two new HX330As, an HX300A and an HX140A. The machines are operated with a wide range of attachments, from buckets and hydraulic breakers, to shears, selector grabs, pulverisers and a magnet.

“We used to have other brands, but Andy Shaw at HES had been working to get a machine into our fleet. We started with an HX380AL during the pandemic. Now, as the machines have come due for replacement within the fleet, we have changed them to Hyundais,” said Director Chris Forshaw. “They are reliable and pretty good on fuel. But it’s the back-up, if we had an issue with this machine now, HES would be here today. If there is any issue, HES always helps us out.”

The dealer also prepares the HD Hyundai machines to Forshaw’s own exacting demolition specification, adding protective side skirts and additional safety handrails to the upper structure. A full cab protection frame is included, while rebar cutters are added to the track frames to protect the undercarriage and the upperstructure of the machine. The company opts for OilQuick and Steelwrist quick couplers, which don’t require the operator to leave the cab when changing between attachments, boosting site safety.

Working predominantly throughout the North-West, Forshaw Demolition is prepared to travel further afield for existing customers. It currently has work in Southampton and in Gateshead, though the majority of projects are closer to its Bolton, Lancashire base. The new HX330AL models are the most popular excavator in the fleet, capable of handling a wide range of tasks on site.

“We always have a 14-tonner around, it’s just so handy for all the smaller projects,’ said Chris Forshaw. “Our 50-tonne machine was purchased for a particular job, but the 33-tonne machines are just the right size to tackle most demolition projects. From 30 to 40 tonnes is the main machine for most of our contracts.”

With a busy order book stretching well into next year and a number of major projects starting over the coming months, Forshaw’s HD Hyundais are certainly being kept busy. The company has a five-year replacement policy, so reliability and longevity are important considerations, particularly in the arduous working environment of a demolition project. However, with the dedicated backing of local dealer HES, Chris Forshaw is confident that the Hyundai machines are equal to the task. 

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